Winona Lake Flooding To Be Addressed
A Winona Lake man asked Kosciusko County Commissioners this morning if a body of water near his property could be part of the Tippecanoe River clean-up project.
The Tippecanoe River project is being funded by a Department of Natural Resources Lake and River Enhancement Grant. Therefore, Tony Kindig’s ditch near Winona Lake would not be included since the grant cannot include a tributary of a river. If it’s a county ditch, then Kindig will need to talk to the county surveyor, said commissioner Ron Truex.
Kindig said, “Winona Lake is having flooding problems.” He noted that he has counted 11 blockages along the ditch, located near his family’s property. Truex said that, while the matter is out of the scope of the commissioners, the board does oversee the drainage board. He noted Kindig started at the right point and the matter will be need to be addressed by the surveyor.
In other matters, county administrator Ron Robinson stated a letter will be sent to several state representatives regarding the county’s role in funding livestock killings. The county is required, by law, to reimburse livestock owners for any animals killed by a pack of dogs or wild animals. The fund has been depleted due to the unusually high animals deaths this year.
Also, a letter will be sent to the DNR regarding a new public access site being proposed at Diamond Lake. The state wants to add a public access site there, but the matter needs to be addressed by the property owners first.
Robinson noted the Zimmer Road roundabout repairs will be completed this week. The engineer, The Troyer Group, and construction company, E & B Paving, are paying for the repairs. The roundabout, which was completed in November 2012, began to experience structural malfunctions this spring after a heavy rain. (See related story)
In highway county matters, bids for annual supplies and materials will be opened at 9:15 a.m. Nov. 5, at the county courthouse in Warsaw.
Also, commissioners approved a stop sign to be erected at CRs 700 North and CR 300 East. The intersection was recently reconstructed.
In other news, the board:
- Appointed Dr. Brian Reichenbach to the county’s board of health department for four terms, due to the resignation of Dr. Patrick Silveus.
- Approved a new ordinance to reflect the state health department’s new procedures for using updated Indiana codes for sewage septic systems.
The next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. Commissioners are president Ron Truex, Brad Jackson and Bob Conley.